Venetian blind cover



Sept. 8, 1953 M. E. SKWARK 2,651,357

VENETIAN BLIND COVER Filed Oct. 3, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR J 407 ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1953 M. E. sKwARK 2,651,357 VENETIAN'BLIND COVER Filed Oct. 5, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 7 7o" A; hlfij IQ%WIW"III if wmfimwmqw m rmgflhIWIIIW%g Q7 40 I I I I I I f 34 .90 .34 I I I I I I I I II I I I I I I I I I III III III; H l r f Q I a/ INVETOR- i/io Mrimlffiwazt ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1953 M. E. SKWARK VENETIAN BLIND COVER 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 3, 1951 as I ' ATTORNEYS p 8, 1953 M. E. SKWARK 2,651,357

VENETIAN BLIND COVER Filed Oct. 5, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR' Mr/mlflwk mwwww ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1953 M. E. SKWARK VENETIAN BLIND COVER 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Oct. 3, 1951 INVENTOR- mmzlfflwall' ATTORNEYS ZJI 2 Sept. 8, 1953 M. E. SKWARK VENETIAN BLIND COVER 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 3, 1951 ATTORNEYS Sept. 8, 1953 M. E. SKWARK 25m VENETIAN BLIND COVER Filed Oct. 5, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENTOR I ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 8, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VENE'IIAN BLIND COVER Marion E; skwark, Binghamton, Y. Application oat-ta s, 1951,.Se'rial No. 249,480

' 6 cl ims. (01. 160-34) 1 This invention relates to covers for Venetian blinds and more particularly to jY-transparent covers to enclose the- In recent years the particular emphasis H dows in houses, and pursuant to this theVenetian blind had progressedin popularity. It has be-. come more popular because in addition toits. esthetic appeal it has the unique ability ofregu- It is therefore-an object of-this invention to provide a means of eliminating thispreviously mentioned difiiculty while blinds inorder to protect. them againstthe gathering of dust and the like.- modes of fashion havelaidon the appearance of windust and the consequent.

still permitting, efficient operation of the blind to control the amount of light passing therethrough and while still permitting one to obtain a view through the window; inhibited only by the elements of the Venetian More particularly, it is an object of thisinven tion to provide a cover for Venetian blinds while still allowing the blinds to operate inthe same efficient manner as before-and to perform'their same function. t v

In addition-t0 the above and foregoing it is a further objector this invention toprovide a single cover for use with Venetian blinds of varying dimensions. This is accomplished generally by arranging the cover WithI'IlGfiJ'lS to permit suitable adjustments both wise. The means to' permit adjustments, is fashioned to produce a curtain or draperyefiect so that the resulting article; is a combination Venetian blind cover and curtain or drape; and

thereby serves the added: functionofactingto beautify the appearance of the article as "well as that of the blind which it encases. T r a Broadly this invention relates toa transparent cover for a Venetian blindnwhich will-cooperate with the blind to protect it from-gathering dust. The cover is mounted to a casing surrounding the Venetian blind head and encloses the slats thereof. The cover is arranged to permit outside control of the blind and has-means to "prevent the interference of the cover with the free operation of the blind. 7

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from'the following detailed d'e'-' scriptionof the drawings: 1 i

=widthwise' or length r. ure -15-showing the 2 Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the Venetian blind cover of the present invention; I

Figure 2 is a view in topplan of the cover of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View in of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a viewin vertical section of Figure 1 taken along the line 4-4;

Figure 5 is a view in vertical section of Figure 1 taken along the line 5f5 Figure 6 is a view in perspective of the cover of Figure 1 showing the manner in which it is opened;

Figure 7 is a view in horizontal section of Figrear elevation of the cover ure 1 taken along the line 1-1;

Figure 8 is a view in horizontal section of Fig-' ure 1 taken along the line 88;

Figure 9 is a view in perspective showing a modified cover;

Figure 10 is a view inperspective similar to Figure 9showing in greater detail the top construction .of the cover Figurell is a View in ure 9 taken along the line -Figure, 12 is aview, in vertical section of Figure 9 taken along the line [2*2;

Figure 13 isfa view in, horizontal Figures taken along theline la -I3;

' Figure 14 is aview in, horizontal section of Figure 9 taken. along the line 147 M;

. Figure 15 is a view, in elevation showing a modified means. for permitting adjustment of the cover; and H Figure 16 is a view .in. elevation similar toFi modified means in greater vertical section of .Fig- Il| I;

section of 7 detail. V -...Referring-. now-to. the drawings, Figures 1 to 8, inclusive-show.the=Venetian blindcover of the present, invention.- The front of the GQTBZLHCQHM sists of a central; panel 20,.preferably made of a transparentclearstifi. plastic and two side panels 22 preferably made of-a softer more flexible plastic material. The central panel 20 is joined. to the side panels 22 by any suitablemeans; however, for purposes of illustration this canbe ac-. complished by sewing the. panels together with a thread'j24fas shown .in Figure8. vThe back of the coveris constructedsimilarly. to the'rfront and consists of a central panel 26 having sewn thereto by suitable'means such as thread 23 side panels 30. A binding strip 3| is sewn-to the top and bottom ofeach of the central panels 26 and The front and back of the cover are joined by mean'siof end panelstzsmade ofthe same material as panels 22 and 36. This connection can be made by any suitable means, but for purposes of illustration, it is shown as being effected by appropriately sewing the panels together by thread 34 (see Figure 7).

The side panels 22 and 36 of the front and back, respectively, of the cover are arranged at their top and bottom with elastic bands 36 which have been sewn into pockets 38 formed in the side panels by folding the material of the side panels back on itself and stitching with a double row of thread 46. The elastic bands 36 are sewn into pockets 38 under tension so that they will produce a shirred effect as indicated at 42 (see Figure l).

The bottom 44 of the cover is sewn to the central, side, and end panels previously described to close off the cover. The bottom 44 is of the same material as the side panels 22 and 36. The bottom 44 is arranged at either end with a pair of elastic bands 46 coextensive with bands 38 which have been sewn into pockets 43 formed by folding the material of the bottom at either end back over itself as shown in Figure 4 and stitching with a double row of thread 50. The elastic bands 46 are sewn into pockets 48 under tension so that a shirred effect will be produced.

The top of the cover consists of a rear panel 52 which has one edge 54 sewn to the back of the cover. To the other edge 56 of the rear panel 52 is sewn one edge 58 of an upper panel 60. To the other edge 62 of the upper panel 66 is sewn one edge 64 of a forward panel 66. The other edge 68 of forward panel 66 is provided with a series of spaced interlocking fastener elements I0. The top edge of the front of the cover is provided with a series of spaced interlocking fastener elements 12 in complementary relation for cooperation with the elements l6. When the fastener elements and 12 are interlocked, the cover assumes a box-like shape.

The upper panel 66 projects beyond the rear panel 52 and forward panel 66 at either end. These projecting portions 14 of panel 66 are provided on their under surface with a pair of interlocking fastener elements 16. Each of the panels 52 and 66, has sewn thereon at either end a triangular piece 18, each of which is arranged with an interlocking fastener element 86 for cooperation with one of the elements 16. When the top of the cover is in the closed position as shown in Figures 1, 4 and 5, the elements '16 and 80 are interlocked. Defined between the portion 14, pieces 18 and the top edge 82 of the end panel 32 is an opening 84, the function of which will be fully explained hereinafter.

Each of the panels 52, at its ends with a pair of elastic bands 86 coextensive with bands 36 and 46 which have been sewn into pockets 88 formed by folding the material of the panel back over itself as shown in Figure 4 and stitching with a double row of thread 90. The bands 86 are sewn into pockets 68 under tension so that a shirred effect will be produced.

Attached to edge 64 of panel 66 at either end coextensive with side panels 22 is one edge 92 of a flap-like member 94. This attachment can be made by any suitable means. However, for purposes of illustration the panel 66 and member 94 are shown sewn together. The members 94 are each arranged with an elastic band 96 coextensive with bands 36 which is sewn into a pocket 98 formed by folding the material of member 94 back over itself as shown in Figure 4 66 and 66 is arranged 4 and stitching with a double row of thread I06. The band 96 is sewn into pocket 98 under tension so that a shirred effect is produced as indicated at I62.

The bottom edge of the side panels 22 of the front of the cover are each provided with a pair of interlocking fastener elements l4 which cooperate with a complementary pair of interlocking fastener elements I06 mounted on a flap-like member I01, substantially similar in construction to flap-like members 94. By this arrangement the members 161 are detachable and hence can be readily removed when desired. Each of the side panels 22 is also provided with an interlocking fastener element I68 at its outside edge approximately midway between its ends which cooperates with a complementary interlocking fastener element H0 mounted on the end of a tab H2 sewn to the bottom outside corner of each of the side panels 30 of the back of the cover.

In use the cover of the present invention is placed about a Venetian blind as follows. The top of the cover is opened as shown in Figure 6, thereby presenting the cover as an open-ended box-like structure. In this condition the blind is placed inside the cover. The top of the cover is thereafter fitted. over the top of the blind and the fastener elements 10 and 12 are mated, thereby closing the cover. The elements 16 and are then mated, resulting in opening 84 to permit the necessary parts of the blind to protrude therethrough for the purpose of permitting attachment of the blind to a window pane structure or the like. In order to operate the blind without the necessity for removing the cover, reinforced slits H4 are provided in side panels 22 of the front of the cover whereby the cords of the blind can pass outside of the cover to permit their manipulation.

The various elastic bands of the cover serve to make it adjustable for Venetian blinds of different widths while at the same time insuring a tight fit between the blind and the cover for any given width. Also, the bands produce a shirred effect, as previously described, and in this manner the portions of the blind so affected simulate curtains and drapes, thereby greatly enhancing the appearance of a blind so enclosed. To this end the central panels 20 and 26 of the front and back of the cover can be made of a stiff transparent material and the remainder of the cover can be made of a softer plastic material which is either transparent, translucent or opaque. It is preferred, however, that the remainder of the cover be made of a translucent material which has thereon a surface ornamentation.

A modified form of this invention is shown in Figures 9 to 14, inclusive. The cover shown here consists of a front, back and bottom substantially similar to the corresponding parts of the cover of Figure 1 with the exception that the flap-like members I20 corresponding to flaplike members I81 are permanently attached to the bottom edge of the front of the cover instead of removably attached. The end panels 22 of the cover join with the front, back and bottom of the cover as previously described and are provided at their tops with slide fasteners 124. The top of the cover is permanently attached to the back and front of the cover and includes a forward pane1'l26, a rear panel i228 and an upper panel I30, which has projecting pieces I31 sewn to the other panels. Each of these panels is arranged with a pair of elastic bands I32 which run coextensive with the elastic bands I34 located at the top of the front of the cover. The bands I32 are sewn into pockets I38 formed in the panels by folding the material of the panels back over itself and stitching with a double row of thread I38. The bands I32 are sewn into pockets I36 under tension to produce a shirred efiect.

Another series of elastic bands I40 are similarly sewn into the panels I20, I28 and I30 transversely of the bands I32. Also flap-like member I42 is attached to the top of the cover as shown. This member I42 extends for the length of the top of the cover.

The function of bands I32 was described in conjunction with Figures 1 to 8, inclusive. The bands I40 in addition to insuring a tight fit between the cover and blind and producing a desired effect also result in making the cover adjustable to blinds of various lengths. Hence, the cover of Figures 9 to 14, inclusive, presents a cover which is adjustable to blinds of varying widths and lengths. It is important to note in in detail in Figure 16, the thread I52 lies directly beneath the material I50. The thread I54 is passed through material I50 from above, wound around thread I52, and thereafter passed through material I50 to above. sively repeated.

used in place of the elastic bands or in combination therewith.

affixed to the cover While the above and foregoing invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments, nevertheless various changes and modifications obvious to one skilled in the art are Within the spirit, scope, and contemplation of the preferred invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A cover for a Venetian blind of the type consisting of a blind head operatively connectplurality of slats and vertical panels arranged in a box-like structure adapted to receive a Venetian blind and com pletely enclose same and elastic means adapted to cooperate with the top portions of the cover,

head.

2. A cover as defined in claim 1 wherein further elastic means are with the bottom portions of the cover, which enclose the bottom bar, to allow the cover to change its dimensions in a direction longitudinally of the bottom bar.

3. A cover as defined in claim 1 wherein further elastic means are provided adapted to cooperate with the portions of the cover surrounding the head to allow the cover to change its dimensions in a direction transversely of the head.

4. A cover as defined in claim 1 wherein said elastic means is constituted by an elastic strap sewn into the cover in a tensioned condition.

5. A cover as defined in claim 2 wherein said and bottom of the cover are constituted by a plurality of elastic straps sewn into the cover While in a tensioned condition thereby to produce a shirred effect.

6. A cover as defined in claim 1 wherein said elastic means is constituted by an elastic thread in a tensioned condition.

MARION E. SKWARK.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATEITTS 

